Footwear with magnetically adhered components

ABSTRACT

Footwear having components attached via magnetic fasteners. The components may be decorative or functional. A first footwear fastener part is permanently attached to the footwear. A second complimentary footwear fastener part is attached to a footwear component. The two fastener parts when put together secure the component to the footwear via a magnetic force.

This application is based on, and claims priority to, U.S. provisionalapplication Ser. No. 61/014,234, filed Dec. 17, 2007, and entitledFootwear with Magnetically Adhered Components.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Footwear often includes functional or decorative components. Both arepermanently attached to the footwear. Functional components may includefor example, straps and buckets. Decorative components may include forexample, fringe or appliqués that are stitched to the footwear. Othercomponents, such as rivets may serve either a functional or decorativepurpose.

Footwear with removable decorative components is known in the art. Forexample, the Crocs™ product provides a synthetic shoe with openings intowhich decorative components can be inserted and snapped in place. Theshoes must have openings to accommodate the decorations.

Many types of footwear could benefit by having a means for removablyattaching functional or decorative components, particularly if thefootwear could be worn with or without the extra components.Unfortunately, not all footwear lends itself to having holes into whichcomponents can be attached, because of either aesthetic or functionalreasons. Creating footwear with removable components without limitingthe style or function has been difficult because attachment mechanismshave either required unwanted holes or other features or because theattachment mechanisms were not reliable enough to withstand use.

Accordingly, footwear with removable components that can be madeattractive and durable would be well received in the industry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention includes footwear having components attached via magneticfasteners. The components may be decorative or functional. A firstfootwear fastener part is permanently attached to the footwear. A secondcomplimentary footwear fastener part is attached to a footwearcomponent. The two fastener parts when put together secure the componentto the footwear via a magnetic force.

The invention includes a method of manufacturing footwear havingfastener components incorporated into the product. Additionally, theinvention includes a product having footwear with one or more magneticfastener parts incorporated therein, plus one or more componentsattached to a complimentary fastener, sold as a single product.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-B depict a shoe with fasteners incorporated therein accordingto an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 depicts a shoe with visible fasteners incorporated thereinaccording to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 3A-C depicts a two part fastener according to an illustrativeembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 depicts a boot having visible fasteners incorporated thereinaccording to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 depicts a boot having fasteners incorporated therein according toan illustrative embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 6A-B depict a shoe with fasteners incorporated therein accordingto an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 depicts a shoe according to an illustrative embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention provide footwear, for example, flats,pumps, boot and sandals, enhanced with components magnetically adheredto the footwear. This can be accomplished by having at least a portionof the component magnetized, and providing an oppositely magnetizedcomponent on or within the footwear. It is also possible to affix thecomponents to the footwear by having only the component or a portionthereof magnetized and providing non-magnetized metal on or within theshoe. The reverse could also be effective, wherein the footwear containsone or more magnetized areas and the components contain non-magnetizedmetal. Generally, the strongest bond will be achieved when both thefootwear and the components contain magnetized portions. The term“fastener part” will be used herein to describe either a magnetized or acomplimentary non-magnetized part used to attach a component tofootwear. Both the footwear and the component will include a fastenerpart so that when they are brought together they will adhere to oneanother. These will be referred to as footwear fastener part andcomponent fastener part, respectively.

The footwear fastener part can be disposed within space between thelining and outer part of the footwear upper if the magnetic force isstrong enough. This will allow the footwear to be worn without attachedcomponents while maintaining desirable styling. Footwear fasteners canalso be placed within or on heels of the footwear and components adheredthereto.

In a particular embodiment of the invention the fastener comprises twoseparable parts, one or both of which are magnetized, wherein a portionof one fastener part is visible from the exterior of the footwear.Preferably the fastener portion disposed on the footwear does notpenetrate the interior surface of the footwear so there is no irritationto the foot of the wearer. If only the footwear fastener part or thecomponent fastener part are magnetized, the complimentary fastener partwill have at least a portion of which is a metal that will be attractedto the magnet. “Complimentary” as used herein means that the parts willadhere to one another. It includes parts that are structurallycomplimentary, such as a cylindrical component and a hole that canaccommodate the cylinder. It can also include a magnetic fastener partand a metal fastener part that can attach to one another at variouslocations on one of the parts. For example, the footwear fastenercomponent can be a metal strip and the complimentary component fastenerpart can magnetically adhere at various locations on the metal strip.

When footwear and component fastener parts are complimentary in shapethe component can be more specifically located. Complimentary shapes canalso reduce the possibility of the component being disengaged when theitem is worn. A non-cylindrical feature of the fastener can serve tospecifically orient the attached component. A less structurallycomplimentary component, such as a metal strip can provide sizingchoices, such as for straps.

The type of fastener used may depend in part on the area in which itwill be placed. The fasteners should be incorporated into the footwearin a manner that will not cause discomfort to the wearer. Certainsections of the footwear will be more vulnerable to discomfort thanothers. The amount of flexing an area will sustain may also determinethe type of fastener used. Both rigid and flexible fasteners are withinthe scope of the invention for use either on the footwear or theattachable component.

It is possible to incorporate the footwear fasteners into the outerportion of the shoe upper in a manner that is attractive when wornwithout attached components. Visible footwear fasteners can be plain,such as studs or be formed into decorative shapes, embossed, enameled,etc. Footwear fasteners can also be incorporated into the outer portionof the upper with the intent that components will always cover thefasteners.

Embodiments of the invention lend themselves to decorative components;however, components can also be functional in nature. For example, apocket can be attached to the side of a boot or a strap to a shoe.Components can be both decorative and functional at the same time.Decorative components may be objects, such as animals, geometric shapes,etc, or may be in the form of panels, straps, bands, buckles, fringeetc. A decorative strap such as on a Mary Jane, or other trim componentcan be made interchangeable with components of other colors, textures,etc.

Fasteners can be attached to the footwear by various methods. Forexample, the fastener can be glued or bonded in place, stitching can beprovided around the fastener to hold it into position, or the fastenercan be stitched to the footwear. Likewise, the fastener can be attachedto the components in various manners, which may depend in part of thetype of component used. In a particular embodiment of the invention, thefastener part or parts have prongs that can penetrate the footwearmaterial or component. Once through the material, the prongs are bent toinhibit the fastener pats from dislodging from the shoe material orcomponent.

The attached figures show various illustrative types of footwear withfasteners disposed therein or thereon. FIG. 1A shows a shoe 100 withfastener parts incorporated into the shoe without being visible whencomponents are not attached. FIG. 1B shows an illustrative placement offastener parts. Placement of the fastener parts is depicted by x-marks.

FIG. 2 depicts a pump 200 with fastener parts 202, 204, 206 disposedwithin a section 208 of the shoe. Fasteners 202, 204, 206 are visibleand may be for example, the type depicted in FIGS. 3A-C.

FIG. 3A depicts a first fastener part 300 having prongs 302, 304. Firstfastener part 300 is depicted as a female part in FIG. 3C. Fastener part300 houses a magnet so that second fastener part 306 will be attractedthereto. Second fastener part 306 comprises a metal that is attracted bythe magnetic force generated by the magnet in fastener part 300.Fastener part 306 is depicted as a male part in FIG. 3B.

Fastener part 306 has a cylindrical protrusion 308 that can be solid orhollow. FIG. 3C shows the opposite side of fastener part 300 from thatwhich is shown in FIG. 3A. Fastener part 300 has a circular hole 310that can accommodate cylindrical protrusion 308. Protrusion 308 and hole310 can be of a non-cylindrical shape so that each fastener portionwould have to be oriented in a specific manner to be fastened together.This could be accomplished for example by using a square protrusion anda square hole.

The magnet can be housed in either the male of female fastener part, orboth. Additionally, the fastener parts need not have holes andprotrusions. They both can have, for example, flat mating surfaces. Formost applications, wherein male and female fastener parts are used, itwill be preferable to have the female part on the shoe and the male parton the footwear component.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show boots 400 and 500, respectively. Boot 400 has visiblefasteners, 402, 404, 408, 408, whereas boot 500 has fasteners, depictedas x-marks, disposed beneath the outer layer of the boot in boot section502. Boot 500 is shown fabricated with a combination of materials. Bootsection 502 is fabricated for example, of leather. Boot section 504 isfabricated of a knitted material, such as a sweater material. It ispossible to incorporate the fasteners into either of those materials.Boot section 502 may also be fabricated from other expandable materialssuch as elastics or elastic-like materials. This can aid in retainingthe attached components in place, as flexing will be accommodated morereadily by the stretchy portion of the footwear, so that componentsattached to parts of less flexible material will not be subject to asmuch movement.

FIG. 6A illustrates another shoe 600 with fasteners incorporatedtherein. Another view of a portion of the shoe is shown in FIG. 6B. Thesection across the front upper has fasteners placed throughout a portionof it. This section or strap-like component can also be removablyattached to the shoe by magnets, although with this particularpositioning the fasteners would have to create a particularly strongbond to satisfactorily attach the band-like component to the shoe.

FIG. 7 depicts a shoe 700 having three female fastener parts 702, 704,706 incorporated into and camouflaged by the flower design on the shoe.The flower design may have depth to maximize hiding of the fastenerparts. For example, the flowers may be separate pieces of materialattached to the shoe.

Embodiments of the invention also include a product comprising footwearhaving fasteners incorporated in or on it, and one or more componentscontaining fasteners, intended to be sold as a set.

Further included in the invention are methods for manufacturing footwearwith magnetically adhered components.

While the invention has been described by illustrative embodiments,additional advantages and modifications will occur to those skilled inthe art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limitedto specific details shown and described herein. Modifications, forexample to the particular placement of magnets, and attachment of thefasteners to the shoes may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the inventionnot be limited to the specific illustrative embodiments, but beinterpreted within the full spirit and scope of the appended claims andtheir equivalents.

1. Footwear comprising: a first footwear fastener part permanentlyattached to the footwear; a second complimentary footwear fastener partpermanently attached to a footwear component; wherein the two fastenerparts when put together secure the component to the footwear via amagnetic force.
 2. The footwear of claim 1 wherein the first footwearfastener part is disposed on the footwear such that no portion of thefastener part protrudes through the inner surface of the footwear. 3.The footwear of claim 1 wherein one of the first or second footwearfastener parts has a cylindrical protrusion and the other of the firstor second footwear fastener parts has a cylindrical hole into which thecylindrical protrusion fits.
 4. The footwear of claim 1 wherein one ofthe first or second footwear fastener parts has a non-cylindricalprotrusion and the other of the first or second footwear fastener partshas a non-cylindrical hole into which the non-cylindrical protrusionfits.
 5. The footwear of claim 1 wherein the first and second footwearfastener parts are magnetic.
 6. The footwear of claim 1 wherein one ofthe first or second footwear fastener parts is magnetic and the other ofthe first or second footwear fastener part is a metal to which themagnetic part is attracted.
 7. The footwear of claim 1 wherein thefootwear fastener part is disposed on the footwear so it is visible fromthe exterior of the footwear.
 8. The footwear of claim 1 furthercomprising one or more additional complimentary footwear fastener parts,each permanently attached to a footwear component.
 9. A method ofmanufacturing footwear comprising: permanently attaching a firstfootwear fastener part to the footwear; permanently attaching a secondcomplimentary footwear fastener to a footwear component; wherein the twofastener parts when put together secure the component to the footwearvia a magnetic force.
 10. The method of claim 9 comprising: attachingthe first footwear fastener part to the footwear such that no portion ofthe fastener part protrudes through the inner surface of the footwear.11. The method of claim 9 wherein one of the first or second footwearfastener parts has a cylindrical protrusion and the other of the firstor second footwear fastener parts has a cylindrical hole into which thecylindrical protrusion fits.
 12. The method of claim 9 wherein one ofthe first or second footwear fastener parts has a non-cylindricalprotrusion and the other of the first or second footwear fastener partshas a non-cylindrical hole into which the non-cylindrical protrusionfits.
 13. The method of claim 9 wherein the first and second footwearfastener parts are magnetic.
 14. The method of claim 9 wherein one ofthe first or second footwear fastener parts is magnetic and the other ofthe first or second footwear fastener part is a metal to which themagnetic part is attracted.
 15. The method of claim 9 wherein thefootwear fastener part is disposed on the footwear so it is visible fromthe exterior of the footwear.
 16. The method of claim 9 furthercomprising providing one or more additional complimentary footwearfastener parts, each permanently attached to a footwear component. 17.The method of claim 9 comprising disposing the footwear fastener part onthe footwear so it is visible.
 20. A footwear product comprising:footwear having: a first footwear fastener part permanently attached tothe footwear; a plurality of second complimentary footwear fastenerparts each permanently attached to a footwear component; wherein the twofastener parts when put together secure the component to the footwearvia a magnetic force.